Hungarian Studies 34 (2020) 2, 190–198 DOI: 10.1556/044.2020.00014 “Night Thoughts” and “Meditations among the Tombs”: The influence of English moralists on Jozsef Peczeli’s sermons and literary activities Gyorgy€ Kuruczp Karoli Gaspar University of the Reformed Church, Hungary ORIGINAL RESEARCH PAPER Received: September 18, 2020 • Accepted: September 29, 2020 Published online: May 13, 2021 © 2020 The Author(s) ABSTRACT Jozsef Peczeli (1750–1792), a Calvinist minister educated at some of the outstanding German, Swiss and Dutch centres of knowledge, is mostly known for his editorial and publishing activities, including his translations of Voltaire’s dramas and epic works. However, this paper is meant to analyze the issues of calling and absolution as presented in “Moral Semons” edited and published by the “erudite minister of Revkomarom”. It argues that Peczeli’s sermons tend to show the influence of eighteenth century English theologians, thereby disseminating the ideas of modern practical theology, as well as interpreting and adapting them to the needs of young ministers serving in the communities of the various layers of contemporary Hungarian society. KEYWORDS Enlightenment, Jozsef Peczeli, L}orinc Orczy, Alexander Pope, Voltaire, John Tillotson, John Evans, William Beveridge, Philip Doddridge, Ferenc Kazinczy One can always wonder as to what extent an individual might be capable of distancing himself from the fashionable trends of his age and, by doing so present his uniqueness in the world of men of letters without being isolated. At the same time, aspiring writers, poets, and editors who p Corresponding author. E-mail:
[email protected] Unauthenticated | Downloaded 10/04/21 10:27 AM UTC Hungarian Studies 34 (2020) 2, 190–198 191 happen to be individuals with strong religious convictions might not seem appealing to the majority of the contemporary public outside their own flocks.